Publications
Fact Sheet
2021

“NEETs”(Persons who are not in employment, education or training)

This Fact Sheet provides a detailed profile of people who are NEET in order to support decision-making in the PSET system.

Abstract

South Africa continues to face an ever-increasing number of people who are not in
employment, education or training (NEET).

In respect of the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) system, the upsurge in the number of NEET suggests the need to expand access to post-school education and training opportunities in the system beyond current provisioning levels in order to accommodate such growing number of people who are NEET. This requires PSET institutions to offer a diversity of programmes not only to take account of the needs of the youth who completed schooling, but also for those who did not complete their schooling.

Information about NEETs assists the DHET, Community Education and Training (CET) colleges, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about PSET provisioning. In particular, NEET data provides the Department and its stakeholders with evidence that can be used to inform the development of policy, strategies and plans, the setting of appropriate targets and effective budgeting.

This publication covers

  • Methodology
  • Terms and definitions: NEET, NEET rate, Youth, Tertiary education
  • Status of the current NEET challenge in South Africa
  • NEET trends